Other Financial Data

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Other Financial Data [Abstract]

Other Financial Data

12. Other Financial Data

Items charged to operations during the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 included the following:

(Dollars in thousands)		2012		2011		2010
Salaries and wages (including fringes)	$	197,642		187,214		160,780
Maintenance and repairs		5,389		4,530		3,440
Research and development (R&D) costs:
Company-sponsored		30,067		33,574		32,199
Customer-sponsored		9,171		8,527		4,035
Total R&D	$	39,238		42,101		36,234
Other engineering costs		17,646		11,490		13,250
Total R&D and other engineering costs	$	56,884		53,591		49,484
As a % of net sales		8.3	%	7.7	%	8.1	%

A reconciliation of the changes in accrued product warranty liability for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)		2012		2011		2010
Balance as of October 1,	$	3,834		3,877		4,370
Additions charged to expense		2,357		3,275		1,813
Deductions		(2,711	)	(3,318	)	(2,306	)
Balance as of September 30,	$	3,480		3,834		3,877